Strip accumulator



Aug. 15, 1961 A. TEPLITZ 2,996,230

STRIP AGGUMIHEAmOR' Eiled June 18, 1957; 4Sheexts-Sheet 1 //VVENTORALFRED TEPL/TZ Attorney Aug. 15, 1961 A. TEPLITZ STRIP ACCUMULATOR 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 18, 1957 INVENTOR ALFRED TEPL/TZ 2396,230STRIP ACCUMULA'IOR Alfred Teplitz, Pittsburgh, Pa, assignorto UnitedStates Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Jersey Filed June 18,1957, Ser. No. 666,418 '14 Claims. (1. 226-l04) This invention relatesto a strip accumulator and more particularly to an accumulator forstoring heavy steel strip on either or both ends of a strip processingline. In the continuous processing of steel strip the strip is deliveredto the line in coiled form and when the strip in one coil is exhaustedit is necessary to Weld or otherwise fasten the trailing end of thestrip already in the processing line to the leading end of a new coil.This operation may require between one and two minutes so that it isnecessary to store suflicient strip to supply strip to the processingequipment while the incoming strip travel is stopped for welding. Insome instances the processed strip is recoiled for further processing orfor shipment to a customer. When this is done it is necessary to shearthe strip when a coil has been formed and then connect the sheared stripto a coiler. This, too, requires storage of the processed strip so thatthe strip can continue to move through the processing line while thestrip is being sheared and delivered to the coiler. Several types ofstorage equipment are used at present. One of these is the looping pitinto which strip is fed at high speeds with the strip falling into thepit in a random manner. When the strip is pulled out of the pit it issubject to gouging by the overlying mass of steel, thus damaging thestrip. A second type of strip storage device is a mechanical accumulatorin which the strip passes around two series of rolls which are movabletoward and away from each other. For maximum storage the two series ofrolls are spaced the maximum distance apart so that when feeding ofstrip into the accumulator stops the two series of rolls will approacheach other. While such an accumulator will not damage thin or relatively flexible strip it is not suitable for handling heavy gage orstilt material since the strip must be wrapped around the rolls on arelatively short radius. Another problem involved in this type ofmechanical accumulator is the proper tracking of the strip movingrapidly over the rolls in the accumulator. Also, there is a practicallimit to the amount of strip that can be stored in this type ofaccumulator.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a mechanicalaccumulator for strip which can handle the strip regardless of its gageor flexibility.

Another object is to provide such an accumulator which has largecapacity and is economical in the use of floor space.

Still another object is to provide a strip accumulator wherein the stripdoes not pass rapidly over a plurality of rolls with attendant trackingproblems.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic plan view of the accumulator of my invention;

FEGURES 2 ar1d2 together show schematically a developed elevation of theconveyor tracks of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse elevation, partly in section, of the conveyorused in my invention;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line FIGURE 3 FIGURE 5 is an enlargedelevation showing a of the accumulator;

FIGURE 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of the storage portion ofmy accumulator;

IV-IV of detail 2,996,230 Patented Aug. 15, 1961 FIGURE 7 is a viewtaken on the line VII-VII of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a schematic view showing the formation of loops of strip;and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view of the electrical controls used in theaccumulator.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 2indicates a pair of pinch rolls which feed the strip S to theaccumulator of my invention. The accumulator is provided with twoendless tracks 4 and 6 arranged with the track 6 directly above thetrack 4. As best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 the track 4 consists of aplurality of l-beam sections 8 arranged end to end with their websvertical, a series of channels 10 arranged end to end and fastened tothe upper flanges of the beams 8 with their flanges extendingdownwardly, and a similar series of channels 12 fastened to the bottomflange of the beams 8 with their flanges facing upwardly. The track 4is. supported by means of vertical columns 14 arranged inside the track,horizontal beams 16 fastened to the columns 14 and extending outwardlyto the beams 8 and reinforcing beams 18 extending longitudinally betweenthe beams16. The upper track 6 is formed of a series of I-beams arrangedend to end with their webs vertical. The track 6 is suspended fromI-beams 20 which are supported from the beams 16 by means of verticalI-beams 22. It will be understood that the beams 14, 16, 18, 20 and 22may be fastened together in any suitable manner such as by welding orriveting. The tracks 4 and 6 have semi-circular ends as shown. As bestshown in FIG- URES 2 and 2 the track 4 is arranged horizontally betweenpoints 4a and 412 at the entry end of theaecuinulator. The track 4extends downwardly between points 4.5 and 40. From point 40 to point 4dat the exit' end of the accumulator the track 4 is, horizontal. Thepoint 4d to point 4e the track 4 rises at asteeper grade than betweenpoints 4b and 4c. The track 4*then slopes downwardly from point 4e topoint 4a. Between points 6a and 6b the track 6 remainshorizontal andparallel to track 4. The track -6 then continues horizontally until itreaches point 6b after which it drops rapidly to point 6c. It thenremains parallel to track 4 until 'it reaches point 6e. From point 62the track continues upwardly to point 6 after which it extends in ahorizontal path to point 6g. It then drops rapidly to point 6a. Aplurality of strip carriers 24 are mounted independently of one anotheron the track 4. Each of these strip carriers 24 consists of a frame 26having a depressible dog 28 mounted on the top thereof. The dog 28 is soconstructed that it will always return to the position shown after beingdepressed by an outside force. The frame 26 carries two rollers 30 whichride on the top of channel 10, two rollers 32 which ride on the insideflange of channel 10, a roller 34 which rides on the bottom of channel12 and a pair of rollers 36 which ride against the outer flange ofchannel 12. A cylindrical arm 38isattached to the frame 26 and extendsoutwardly therefrom in a horizontal direction. This arm 38 may berotatable or non-rotatable. A conventional power chain '40 is supportedby trolleys 42 each having a pair of rolls 44 mounted for movement onthe lower flanges of track 6. The chain carries lugs 46 on the lowerside thereof spaced at equal intervals. A power chain 48 is locatedadjacent the chain 4t) and is provided with a plurality of driving dogs50 of correct contour to mesh with the conveyor chain 40. The chain 48is driven from a motor 52. The power chain and drive therefor areconventional equipment such as manufactured by the Jervis B. WebbCompany of Detroit, Michigan. The means for driving the carriers 24 fromthe chain 40 is also conventional.

Carrier release devices 54 and 56 are located below the track 4 a shortdistance on the entry side of points 4c 3 and 411 as shown in FIGURES 1,5 and 9. The carrier release device 54 consists of a screw 58 mountedwith its axis parallel to the track 4 and a gear motor 60 for drivingthe screw. The carrier release device 56 consists of similar partsidentified by priming the reference numerals. A lug 62 is welded orotherwise fastened tothe bottom of each of the frames 26. The outerperiphery of the screws 58 and 58' are arranged so they will contact thelugs 62. 1

The entry pinch rolls 2 are driven from a motor 64 through a gearreducer 66. A pit 68 is located beneath the arms 38 between the pinchrolls 2 and the point 40. The transverse centers of the arms 38 are onthe longi- -tudinal center of the processing line between these points.

A bending roll 70 is mounted below the pinch rolls 2 on the exit sidethereof above the pit 68. The roll 70 is mounted for rotation on a shaft72 which is carried on the outer end of a rotatable arm 74 which in turnis mounted on a shaft 76 for rotation therewith. The shaft 76 is drivenfrom a Selsyn motor 78 through a gear reducer 80. Power for drivingmotors 52 and 64 is provided by a DC. generator 82 having a field 82Fconnected to DC. power lines L1L2. The speed of the motors 52 and 64 maybe varied by changing the setting of rheostat 84 connected in the fieldcircuit. A switch 86 is provided for controlling flow of current tofield 82F. This switch may be manually operated or tied in with thecontrol of the speed of the strip processing line. This arrangementprovides for changes in speed of the accumulator or chain 40corresponding to changes in speed of the pinch rolls 2.

While this relationship is not essential it is desirable in that itproduces loops of uniform length under all condi- "tions. A Selsyngenerator 88 is connected to be driven by the motor 52 and iselectrically connected to the Selsyn motor 78. The Selsyn generator andmotor are connected to -A.C. power source L3-L4. Thus a predeterminedspeed relationship is established between the chain 48 and bend- -ingroll 70. A pair of pinch rolls 90 is located above the exit end of pit68, the strip passing through these rolls to the processing equipment.The rolls 90 may be driven in any suitable manner. A slidable frame 92is mounted beneath the pinch rolls 90 and carries two rolls 94 at itsouter end. The axes of rolls 94 are parallel to the axis 1 of rolls 90and are separated to receive strip S there- '-between. The frame 92 isprovided with a slot 96 which engages an on-off type limit switch 98which controls flow -of current from lines L3L4 to the motor 60 ofcarrier release device 54. A switch 100 is mounted on one of the beams22 a short distance on the entry side of point 4a and a similar switch102 is similarly mounted on the exit side of carrier release 56. Closingof switch 100 energizes a relay coil 104 to close its contact 104C, thusenergizing motor 60' of carrier release device 56. The relay contact104C is locked in closed position by means of latch 105 controlled bysolenoid 1058. Motor 60' remains energized until the carrier 24 whichhas been released closes switch 102 to energize solenoid 105S andrelease latch 105. Two normally closed switches 106 and 108 are arrangedadjacent the track 4 just on the exit side of point 4b and are spacedapart approximately the i are mounted in the same manner adjacent thetrack 4 on the inlet side of 'point 40.

Switches 112 and 114 are arranged in parallel with each other in circuitWith a light or other signal 116.

The operation of my device is as follows: Assume that thereis no carrier24 between points 412 and 40, that there are carriers 24 between points40 and 4d, and between points 4e and 4b with a carrier'24 directly belowroll 7 0 which is in highest position, that the strip S has beenthreaded through the pinch rolls 2, between bendfollowing steps aretaking place. :28 on the carriers 24 between points 4c and 4d to move.them along track 4. A lug 46 engages the switch v100 and closes it tocomplete a circuit to motor 60', thus ing roll 70 and the arm 38 of thecarrier therebelow, between rolls 94 and between pinch rolls to theprocessing line, and that the generator 82 is rotating and its fieldenergized, thus causing motors 52 and 64 to drive chain 48 and pinchrolls 2 and the bending roll 70 to move about the axis of shaft 76. Thisis the position of the parts shown in full lines in FIGURE 8. Movementof chain 48 causes chain 40 to move about track 6. Lugs 46 on chain 40engage dogs 28 of the carriers 24 between points 40 and 4d and betweenpoints 4a and 4b. This moves the carriers along the track 4 at a speedsuch that the roll 70 will make one complete revolution about the vaxisof shaft 76 while the carriers 24 move one step, that is, the distancebetween adjacent lugs 46. As the roll 70 ,moves in a counterclockwisedirection as shown in FIG- URE 8, that is, downwardly toward theapproaching carrier, it moves the strip S downwardly with it for a shortdistance until the parts reach the broken line position shown afterwhich the strip continues to be fed downwardly forming a loop L betweenthe arms 38 of the first and second carriers in line approaching point4b. The loop L increases in length until it reaches its full length asshown in FIGURE 6. When the roll 70 completes one revolutionit will bedirectly above the arm 38 of the second carrier 24 and will proceed toform a second loop between the arms 38 of the second and third carriers24. While the relationship between the radius of .roll 70 and arm 38,the radius of rotation of roll 70 and .the distance between lugs 46 isnot critical it will be seen that the sum of the radii of roll 70, arm38 and radius ,of rotation of roll 70 must be sufficiently less thanthreefourths of the distance between lugs 46 to give clearance betweenthe roll 70 and arm 38 when the roll 70 is in the plane of the axes ofarms 38. As the first carrier in line moves forwardly along track 4 itreaches point 4b and its dog 28 becomes disengaged from the lug 46 sothat it will drift down the track 4 to point 4c. At the same time thatthe first carrier is moving to point 4b the Lugs 46 engage dogs causingthe screw 58' to rotate. This permits the carriers 24 on the slope ofconveyor 4 between points 42 and 4a to move downwardly until the lug 62of the lowermost carrier passes beyond the end of screw 58'. As thecarrier passes beyond the end of screw 58' it engages the switch '102which opens the circuit to motor 60' to stop the same'and reset themotor circuit. The lug 46 which actuated switch will then be inposition, to engage the dog 28 on the released carrier. The carriersbetween points 4a and 4b will all have moved one step forwardly. Theforegoing steps are repeated and if the feed from the pit 68 is slowerthan the feed into the pit more and more 1 loops L will be formed in thepit 68. When a carrier 24 carrying a loop L reaches the strip carrierrelease device 54 the lug 62 will engage the screw 58 which willrestrain it and any additional carriers behind it from further movement.As the strip is withdrawn from a loop at point 40 through rolls 94 and90 no movement of the carriers in the pit 68 occurs. However, when thestrip in the loop is exhausted the strip S will pass from the nextsucceeding carrier and cause the frame 92 to slide to the left as seenin FIGURE 6 to its broken line position, thus closing switch 98 to startmotor 60. This permits all the restrained carriers 24 to move forwarduntil the strip S is again passing directly upwardly through rolls 94 atwhich time frame 92 will have resumed its original position and switch98 will have opened to stop the motor 60.

'This procedure is repeated as long as strip is being withdrawn from theaccumulator. When it is necessary to stop feed of the strip into the pit68 to weld the trailing end of the strip to the next succeeding coilthere will be few if any carriers 24 between points 40 and 4d and theempty carriers will move .into this space as the strip is removedtherefrom.

11m normal operation of the processing line the pit be'relatively filledwith strip when the accumulator is on the entry side of the processingequipment and relatively empty when on the exit side as is usualpractice.

When the strip input is exceeding the strip output and the accumulatorbecomes filled both switches 106 and 108 will be opened by contact Withthe carriers 24. This will deenergize relay coil 110 to open its contact110C and deenergize the field 82F. When the strip" in the accumulatorapproaches exhaustion there will be no carriers therein to actuateeither of the normally open switches 112 and 114. Thus there will be nocircuit to light 116 and the operator will stop the processing line. Theabove described safety devices are described for use with an accumulatoron the entry side of a processing line. Similar devices will be usedwhen the accumulator is used on the delivery end of the line.

While one embodiment of my invention has been shown and described itwill be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, 'astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding a generally horizontal arm for supporting said strip, anendless track arranged around a generally vertical line, means mountingsaid, carriers independently of one another on said track, a stripstorage section associated with said track beneath said arms be tweensaid entry and exit ends, means for feeding strip to the arm of acarrier at the entry end of said strip storage section, means forautomatically forming a loop of strip between, adjacent carrier arms atthe entry end of said strip storage section, means for moving saidcarriers along said track, each of said carriers being movable withrespect to the other carriers, means for removing strip from the carrierarm at the exit end of said strip storage section, and means forpreventing said arms from dropping downwardly throughout their travel.

2. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding a generally horizontal arm for supporting said strip, anendless track for carrying said carriers, a strip storage sectionassociation with said track beneath said arms between said entry andexit ends, a bending roll at the entry end of said strip storagesection, a shaft parallel to and spaced from the axis of said bendingroll, means for supporting the bending roll for revolving movement aboutsaid shaft, means for revolving said bending roll about said shaft at apredetermined speed, means for feeding said strip downwardly betweensaid bending roll and the carrier arm therebeneath so as to form, loopsbetween adjacent carrier arms, means for moving said carriers alongtheir track, each of said carriers being movable with respect to theother carriers, and means, for removing strip from the carrier arm atthe exit end of said. strip storage section.

. 3.. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said,carriersincluding a generally horizontal arm for. supporting said strip,an endless track for carrying said carriers, a second endless trackadjacent said first track, a power chain carried by said second track,means on said chain spaced apart at equal distances to engage saidcarriers, a strip storage section associated with said carrier track.beneath said arms between said entry and exit ends, a bending roll atthe entry end of said strip storagesection, a, shaft parallel to andspaced from the axis of said bendingroll, meansfor supporting thebending roll for revolving movement about said shaft, means forrevolving said bending roll about said shaft in synchronism with themovement ofsaid chain, said tracks being so arranged on the entry sideof said storage section that the engaging means on said chain willengage said carriers, said carrier extending downwardly from a pointadjacent the entry end, of said storage section to a point adjacent theexit end thereof with the chaintrack, so arranged that the engagingmeans on said chain will be out of engagement with said carriers, saidtracks: then receding from said storage space and sloping upwardly sothat the engaging means on said chain will engage said carriers, saidcarrier track then extending downwardly to a point adjacent the. entryend with the chain track so arranged that the engag-v ing means on saidchain will be out of engagement with said carriers, means for feedingsaid strip downwardly between said bending roll and the carrier armtherebeneath so as to form loops between adjacent carrier arms, andmeans for removing strip from the carrier arms at the exit end of saidstrip storage section.

4. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding a generally horizontal arm for supporting said strip, anendless track for carrying said carriers, a second endless trackadjacent said first track, a power chain carried by said second track,means on said chain spaced apart at equal distancm to engage saidcarriers, a strip storage section associated with said carrier trackbeneath said arms between said entry and exit ends, a bending roll atthe entry end of said strip storage section, a shaft parallel to andspaced from the axis of said bending roll, means for supporting thebending roll for revolving movement about said shaft, means forrevolving said bending roll about said shaft in synchronism with themovement of said chain, said tracks being so arranged on the entry sideof said storage section that the engaging means on said chain willengage said carriers, said carrier track having a first slope extendingdownwardly from a point adjacent the entry end of said storage sectionto a point adjacent the exit end thereof with the chain track soarranged that the engaging means on said chain will be out of engagementwith said carriers, said tracks then receding from said storage spaceand sloping upwardly so that the engaging means on said chain willengage said carriers, said carrier track then having a return slopeextending downwardly to a point adjacent the entry end with the chaintrack so arranged that the engaging means on said chain will be out ofengagement with said carriers, means for feeding said strip downwardlybetween said bending roll and the carrier arm therebeneath so as to formloops between adjacent carrier arms, means for removing strip from thecarrier arms at the exit end of said strip storage section, a carrierrelease device located adjacent the lower end of the first slope of saidcarrier track, a second carrier release device located adjacent thelower end of the return slope of said carrier track, means for operatingsaid first carrier release device to release the lowest carrier in saidstrip storage section when the strip is removed from the arm of saidlowest carrier, and means for operating said second carrier releasedevice to release the lowest carrier on said return slope.

5. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding a dog and a generally horizontal arm for supporting saidstrip, an endless track for carrying said carriers, a second endlesstrack adjacent said carrier track, a power chain carried by said secondtrack, lugs on said chain spaced apart at equal distances, a stripstorage section associated with said carrier track beneath said armsbetween said entry and exit ends, a bending roll at the entry end ofsaid strip storage section, a shaft parallel to and spaced from the axisof said bending roll, means for supporting the bending roll forrevolving movement about said shaft, means for revolving said bendingroll about said shaft in. synchronism withthe movement of said chain,said tracks being parallel on the entry side of said storage sectionwith the dogs in position to engage the chain lugs, said carrier trackextending downwardly from a point adjacent the entry end of said storagesection to. a point adjacent the exit end thereof 7 with the cham tracksufficiently spaced therefrom so that the dogs cannot engage said chainlugs, said tracks then receding from said storage section in parallelrelationship with each other and sloping upwardly with the dogs inposition to engage the chain lugs, said carrier track then extendingdownwardly to a point adjacent the entry end with the chain tracksufliciently spaced therefrom so that the dogs cannot engage said chainlugs, said chain lugs being so positioned that a carrier arm will bebelow said bending roll when the bending roll is approximately in itshighest position, saidbending roll moving from a position .above saidlast named carrier arm downwardly toward the entry end of said storagespace to a position below the last named carrier arm, the spacing ofsaid lugs and speed of said chain being such that the chain will movethe distance between lugs while the bending roll is making onerevolution about the axis of said shaft, and means for feeding saidstrip downwardly between said rotating bending roll and the carrier armtherebeneath so as to form loops between adjacent carrier arms.

6. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding a dog and a generally horizontal arm for supporting saidstrip, an endless track for carrying said carriers, a second endlesstrack adjacent said carrier track, a power chain carried by said secondtrack, lugs on said chain spaced apart at equal distances, a stripstorage section associated with said carrier track beneath said armsbetween said entry and exit ends, a bending roll at the entry end ofsaid strip storage section, a shaft parallel to and spaced from the axisof said bending roll, means for supporting the bending roll forrevolving movement about said shaft, means for revolving saidbendingrrol-l about said shaft in synchronism with the movement of saidchain, said tracks being parallel on the entry saide of said storagesection with the dogs in position to engage the chain lugs, said carriertrack having a first slope extending downwardly from a point adjacentthe entry end of said storage section to a point adjacent the exit endthereof with the chain track sufficiently spaced therefrom so that thedogs cannot engage said chain lugs, said tracks then receding from saidstorage section in parallel relationship with each other and slopingupwardly with the dogs in position to engage the chain lugs, saidcarrier track then having a return slope extending downwardly to a pointadjacent the entry end with the chain track sufiiciently spacedtherefrom so that the dogs cannot engage said chain lugs, a carrierrelease device located adjacent the lower end of the first slope of saidcarrier track, a second carrier release device located adjacent thelower end of the return slope of said carrier track, means for operatingsaid first carrier release device to release the lowest carrier in saidstrip storage section when the strip is removed from the arm of saidlowest carrier, means for operating said second carrier release deviceto release the lowest carrier on said return slope, said chain lugsbeing so positioned that a carrier arm will be below said bending rollwhen the bending roll is approximately in its highest position, saidbenddownwardly between said rotating bending roll and the 'carrier armtherebeneath so as to form loops between adjacent carrier arms.

7. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding a dog, a lug and a generally horizontal arm for supportingsaid strip, an endless track for carrying said carriers,

2. second endless track adjacent said carrier track, a pow- 8 er chaincarried by said second track, lugs on said chain spaced apart at equaldisances, a strip storage section associated with said carrier trackbeneath said arms between said entry and exit ends, a bending roll atthe entry end of said strip storage section, a shaft parallel to andspaced from the axis of said bending roll, 'means for supporting thebending roll for revolving movement about said shaft, means forrevolving said bending roll about said shaft in synchronism with themovement of said chain, said tracks being parallel on the entry side ofsaid storage section with the dogs in position to engage the chain lugs,said carrier track having a first slope extending downwardly from apoint adjacent the entry end of said storage section to a point adjacentthe exit end thereof with the chain track sufficeintly spaced there fromso that the dogs cannot engage said chain lugs, said tracks thenreceding from said storage section in parallel relationship with eachother and sloping upwardly with the dogs in position to engage the chainlugs, said carrier track then having a return slope extending downwardlyto a point adjacent the'entry end with the chain track sufficientlyspaced therefrom so that the dogs cannot engage said chain lugs, acarrier release device located adjacent the lower end of the first slopeof said carrier track, a second carrier release device located adjacentthe lower end of the return slope of said carrier track, each of saidcarrier release devices including a screw arranged with its axisparallel to said carrier track and means for rotating said screw, theperiphery of each screw being positioned to engage said carrier lugs,said chain lugs being so positioned that a carrier arm will be belowsaid bending roll when the bending roll is approximately in its highestposition, said bending roll moving from a position above said last namedcarrier arm downwardly toward the entry end of said storage space to aposition below the last named carrier arm, the spacing of said lugs andspeed of said chain being such that the chain will move the distancebetween lugs While the bending roll is making one revolution about theaxis of said shaft, means for feeding said strip downwardly between saidrotating bending roll and the carrier arm therebeneath so as to formloops between adjacent carrier arms, means for rotating the screw ofsaid first carrier release device to release the lowest carrier when thestrip is removed from the arm of the lowest carrier in said storagesection,

means for stopping rotation of the screw of said first 7 carrier releasewhen the said lowest carrier is released, and means for rotating thescrew of said second carrier release device to release the lowestcarrier on said return slope. Y

8. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriersincluding an upwardly extending dog, a downwardly extending lug and agenerally horizontal arm for supporting said strip, an endless track forcarrying said carriers, a second endless track located above said firsttrack, a power chain carried by said second track, downwardly extendinglugs on said chain spaced apart at equal distances, a strip storagesection below said carrier track beneath said arms between said entryand exit ends, a bending roll at the entry end of said strip storagesection, a shaft parallel to and spaced from the axis of said bendingroll, means for supporting the bending roll for revolving movement aboutsaid shaft, means for revolving said bending roll about said shaftinsynchronism with the movement of said chain, said tracks beingparallel on the entry side of said storage section with the dogs inposition to engage the chain lugs, said carrier track extendingdownwardly from a point adjacent the entry end of said storage sectionto a point adjacent the exit end thereof with the chain track spacedtherefrom so that the dogs are below the chain lugs, said tracks thenreceding from said storage section in parallel relationship with eachother and sloping upwardly with the dogs in position to engage the chainlugs,

gamma 9 said carrier track then extending downwardly to a point adjacentthe entry end with the chain track spaced there from so that the dogsare below the chain lugs, said chain lugs being so positioned that acarrier arm will be below said bending roll when the bending roll isapproximately in its highest position, said bending roll moving from aposition above said last named carrier arm downwardly toward the entryend of said storage space to a position below the last named carrierarm, the spacing of said lugs and speed of said chain being such thatthe chain will move the distance between lugs while the bending roll ismaking one revolution about the axis of said shaft, and means forfeeding said strip downwardly between said'rotating bending roll and thecarrier arm therebeneath soas'to form loops between adjacent carrierarms.

9. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip carriers, eachof said carriersincluding an upwardly extending dog, a downwardly extending lug and agenerally horizontal arm for supporting said strip, an endless track forcarrying said carriers, a second endless track located above said firsttrack, a power chain carried by said second track, downwardly extendinglugs on said chain spaced apart at equal distances, a strip storagesection below said carrier track beneath said arms between said entryand exit ends, a bending roll at the entry end of said strip storagesection, a shaft parallel to and spaced from the axis of said bendingroll, means for supporting the bending roll for revolving movement aboutsaid shaft, means for revolving said bending roll about said shaft insynchronism with the movement of said chain, said tracks being parallelon the entry side of said storage section with the dogs in position toengage the chain lugs, said carrier track having a first slope extendingdownwardly from a point adjacent the entry end of said storage sectionto a point adjacent the exit end thereof with the chain track spacedtherefrom so that the dogs are below the chain lugs, said tracks thenreceding from said storage section in parallel relationship with eachother and sloping upwardly with the dogs in position to engage the chainlugs, said carrier track then having a returnslope extending downwardlyto a point adjacent the entry end with the chain track spaced therefromso that the dogs are below the chain lugs, a carrier release devicelocated adjacent the lower end of the first slope of said carrier track,a second carrier release device located adjacent the lower end of thereturn slope of said carrier track, said chain lugs being so positionedthat a carrier arm will be below said bending roll when the bending rollis approximately in its highest position, said bending roll moving froma position above said last named carrier arm downwardly toward the entryend of said storage space to a position below the last named carrierarm, the spacing of said lugs and speed of said chain being such thatthe chain will move the distance between lugs while the bending roll ismaking one revolution about the axis of said shaft, means for feedingsaid strip downwardly between said rotating bending roll and the carrierarm therebeneath so as to formloops between adjacent carrier arms, meansfor operating said first carrier release device to release the lowestcarrier in said strip storage section when the strip is removed from thearm of said lowest carrier and means for operating said second carrierrelease device to release the lowest carrier on said return slope.

10L An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a plurality of strip car riers, each of said carriersincluding an upwardly extending dog, a downwardly extending lug and agenerally horizontal arm for supporting said strip, an endless track forcarrying said carriers, a second endless track located above said firsttrack, a power chainicarried by said second track, downwardly extendinglugs on said chain spaced apart at equal distances, a strip storage section below said carrier track beneath said arms between said entry andexit end, a bending roll at the entry end of said strip storage section,a shaft parallel to and spaced from the axis of said bending roll, meansfor supporting the bending roll for revolving movement about said shaft,means for revolving said bending roll about said shaft in synchronismwith the movement of said chain, said tracks being parallel on the entryside of said storage section with the dogs in position to engage thechainlugs, said carrier track having a first slope extending downwardlyfrom a point adjacent the entry end of said storage section to a pointadjacent the exit end thereof with the chain track spaced therefrom sothat the dogs are below the chain lugs, said tracks then receding fromsaid storage section in parallel relationship with each other andsloping upwardly with the dogs in position to engage the chain lugs,said carrier track then having a return slope extending downwardly to apoint adjacent the entry end with the chain track spaced therefrom sothat the dogs are below the chain lugs, a carrier release device locatedadjacent the lower end of the first slope of said carrier track, asecond carrier release device located adjacent the lower end or" thereturn slope of said carrier track, each of said carrier release devicesincluding a screw arranged with its axis parallel to said carrier trackand means for rotating said screw, the periphery of each of said screwsbeing positioned to engage said carrier lugs, said chain lugs being sopositioned that a carrier arm Will be below said bending roll when thebending roll is approximately in its highest position, said bending rollmoving from a position above said last named carrier arm downwardlytoward the entry end of said storage space to a position below the lastnamed carrier arm, the spacing of said lugs and speed of said chainbeing such that the chain will move the distance between lugs while thebending roll is making one revolution about the axis of said shaft,means for feeding said strip downwardly between said rotating bendingroll and the carrier arm therebeneath so as to form loops betweenadjacent carrier arms, means for rotating the screw of said firstcarrier release device to release the lowest carrier when the strip isremoved from the arm of the lowest carrier in said storage section,means for stopping rotation of the screw of said first carrier releasewhen the said lowest carrier is released, and means for rotating thescrew of said second carrier release device to release the lowestcarrier on said return slope.

11. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end, a strip storage section between said entry and exitends, a plurality of strip carriers, each of said carriers including agenerally horizontal arm extending over said strip storage section,means for feeding strip to the arm of a carrier at the entry end of saidstrip storage section, means for automatically forming a loop of stripbetween adjacent carrier arms at the entry end of said strip storagesection, a track between said entry and exit ends, means mounting saidcarriers independently of one another on said track, said carriers withloops of strip therebetween being movable along said track in said stripstorage section, means for removing strip from the carrier arm at theexit end of said strip storage section, means for returning saidcarriers from the exit end of said strip storage section to the entryend thereof, and means for preventing said arms from dropping downwardlythroughout their travel.

12. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end at an elevation lower than the strip entry end, a stripstorage section between said entry and exit ends, a plurality of stripcarriers, each of said carriers including a generally horizontal armextending over said strip storage section, means for feeding strip tothe arm of a carrier at the entry end of said strip storage section,means for forming a loop of strip between adjacent carrier arms at theentry end of said strip storage section, a track sloping downwardly fromsaid entry end to said exit end, means mounting said carriersindependently of one another on said track, said carriers with loops ofstrip therebetween being movable by gravity along said track in saidstrip storage section, means for removing strip from the carrier arm atthe exit end of said strip storage section, means for returning saidcarriers from the exit end of said strip storage section to the entryend thereof, and means for preventing said arms from dropping downwardlythroughout their travel, the longitudinal center of said strip remainingin essentially the same vertical plane in its movement through said loopforming means, strip storage section and strip removing means.

13. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end at an elevation lower than the strip entry end, aplurality of strip carriers, each of said carriers including a generallyhorizontal arm for supporting said strip, an endless track for carryingsaid carriers, a second endless track adjacent said first track, a powerchain carried by said second track, means on said chain spaced apart atequal distances to engage said carriers, a strip storage sectionassociated with said carrier track beneath said arms between said entryand exit ends, said tracks being so arranged on the entry side of saidstorage section that the engaging means on said chain will engage saidcarriers, said carrier track extending downwardly from a point adjacentthe entry end of said storage section to a point adjacent the exit endvthereof with the chain track so arranged that the engaging means on saidchain will be out of engagement with said carriers, means for feedingstrip to the arm of a carrier at the entry end of said strip storagesection, means for forming a loop of strip between adjacent carrier armsat the entry end of said strip storage section, said carriers with theloops of strip thereon being movable by gravity down said carrier trackin said storage section, said tracks receding from said storage spaceand sloping upwardly so that the engaging means on said chain willengage said carriers, and means for removing strip from the carrier armsat the exit end of said strip storage section, the longitudinal centerof said strip remaining in essentially the same vertical plane in itsmovement through said loop forming means, strip storage section andstrip removing means.

14. An accumulator for handling strip comprising a strip entry end, astrip exit end at an elevation lower than the strip entry end, aplurality of strip carriers, each of said carriers including a generallyhorizontal arm for supporting said strip, an endless track for carryingsaid carriers, a second endless track adjacent said first track, a powerchain carried by said second track, means on said chain spaced apart atequal distances to engage said carriers, a strip storage sectionassociated with said carrier track beneath said arms between said entryand exit ends, said tracks being so arranged on the entry side of saidstorage section that the engaging means on said chain will engage saidcarriers, said carrier track extending downwardly from a point adjacentthe entry end of said storage section to a point adjacent the exit endthereof with the chain track so arranged that the engaging means on saidchain will be out of engagement with said carriers, means for feedingstrip to the arm of a carrier at the entry end of said strip storagesection, means for forming a loop of strip between adjacent carrier armsat the entry end of said strip storage section, said carriers with theloops of strip thereon being movable by gravity down said carrier trackin said storage section, said tracks receding from said storage spaceand sloping upwardly so that the engaging means on said chain willengage said carriers, said carrier track then extending downwardly to apoint adjacent the said entry end with the chain track so arranged thatthe engaging means on said chain will be out of engagement with saidcarriers, and means for removing strip from the carrier arms at the exitend of said strip storage section, the longitudinal center of said stripremaining in essentially the same vertical plane in its movement throughsaid loop forming means, strip storage section and strip removing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,996,230August 15 1961 Alfre'fi Teplitz corrected below.

Column 2 line 36, for "The'f read From column 5 line 44, for"association" read associated Signed and sealed this 19th day ofDecember 1961,-

' (SEAL) Attest: ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC

